Emergency Services Keep Tabs on Heat-Related Illness

In spite of heat index values reaching around the triple digits over severals days and overnight temperatures getting only into the 70s, area emergency services officials report no big spike in health calls related to the heat.

Heat exhaustion and stroke are a real possibility during hot, humid weather with extra stress on the heart and respiratory systems. Anyone seen to be having trouble breathing, shivering, trouble concentrating or feeling weak should be moved quickly into the shade or air conditioning and 911 should be called. Heat stroke is a real emergency.

People with certain health issues are particularly susceptible to heat-related illness. The elderly and children can also be vulnerable while children often ignore the heat while playing outside.

Health officials say the near-record breaking heat is hitting especially hard locally since residents have not had an extended run of gradually increasing temperatures to help their bodies acclimate to the more extreme conditions.